‘All things are possible for one who believes’ (Mark 9:23) It is an ongoing scandal and provocation to the Almighty that certain preachers are getting rich from distorted and deceptive preaching on ‘faith.’ The idea that God can be turned into a slot machine, serving up ever increasing riches and health if we just do certain things, like send money to the preacher, is an abomination. However, we must not allow ourselves to reject or downplay genuine faith in our... Read more
“and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.”(Mark 9:3 ESV) When you hear the name Jesus what do you think of? The kindly but strong carpenter? The gentle healer? The teacher? The man on a cruel cross? He was all these things. But in this remarkable moment some of the disciples got to glimpse him for who he really is. No longer hidden. The glory revealed. When we come to prayer if we... Read more
“And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.””(Mark 8:24) The account of Jesus healing a blind man in stages is remarkable. He could have healed him in one go, but chose to do it in stages. I’m sure this was because Jeuss wanted to draw out faith in the man. Perhaps you have seen God begin to do something in your life. Maybe it’s something you’ve been asking for a long time. Now... Read more
““I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.”(Mark 8:2) It is vital for us to note the passion that lay behind Jesus many miracles. It wasn’t for immediate glory. In fact Jesus urged people not to say what he had done often. Jesus did his miracles because he has compassion on others. And in the one in front of us today, the miracle was he took the limited... Read more
The silence of American evangelicals concerning Trump has been deafening, with some notable exceptions. It is in my view time that Christians spoke with one voice: this man does not speak for us. Yesterday, following a record breaking petition which I was only too happy to personally sign, an unprecedented debate occurred under the watchful gaze of Big Ben. Now admittedly the said debate was not binding on the UK government, and there was no vote at the end. But... Read more
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23) This verse in context reminds me of a passage from Paul which makes a similar point: If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,... Read more
“And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.”(Mark 6:46) Yesterday we spoke about Jesus’ love for the crowds. But Jesus also often withdrew from the crowds. Some of us, myself definitely included, often forget the vital place of such withdrawal from the business of life, not always just to enjoy recreation, but to reconnect with the source of all power through prayer. See Also Lord, teach me to pray! Slow Down... Read more
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34) When you see a crowd how do you feel? Some of us find large numbers of people overwhelming. some feel afraid when they are surrounded by them. Others are just exhausted by crowds. When we are traveling on a busy train we certainly dont want to talk to anyone.... Read more
And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.(Mark 6:5-6) This is one of the most remarkable verses in the Bible. Jesus, the all powerful, stopped in his tracks. What could prevent him from acting? What could hinder his power? Unbelief. The Western Church almost encourages unbelief. Our cynicism and skepticism means that if God actually turned up and did... Read more
“But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:36 Even the most outwardly confident of us sometimes need to hear this command of Jesus. He tells us the same as he told the ruler of the synagogue: do not to be anxious, but instead trust him. Trust is a choice which can dispel fear. This is not an instruction for us to simply by human effort force ourselves not to... Read more
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